03 target rifle question

I have been scouring the internet trying to figure my rifle out. I am stumped however on the barrel! it is 27in. with a taper from 1.18 to 1 inch, no front sight, SA on top of 507 stamp under scope holes, and polished bright. anyone ever seen one like this or know where it came from?

rest of the rifles features are: 129xxxx ser.# with polished and #ed J5 bolt, timny trigger, and a two color laminate stock.

It is very well built (says the couple of gunsmiths I have showed it to that tried to buy it from me) and is pretty accurate.

Any information or guesses would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

ps, After all the researching I have been up to I think I need a Unertl on it to make the rifle extra classy, does anyone agree?

Everson

By your description it sounds like a civilian put together, although it may be well built. However there is all ways a chance, the barrel & receiver came from one of the Springfield target rifles of the very late 20s to 30s. Have someone do a SRS search of the rifle’s serial number and see what shows up. You will need to supply the entire number but you can do that thru a PM. Also take a look at Brophy, starting on page 105 and see if anything rings a bell. The barrel size that I noted that fits your description pre-dates your receiver but I certainly could have missed one.

Good photos of the rifle with emphases on any markings would be very helpful. I do think that if this is a Springfield target rifle of some type (international, free, ’T’ or whatever) the laminate stock is a much later add on, so,,, remove the barreled action from the stock and also take some good photos of the bottom of the barrel and action again with special note of any markings. There is a gentleman by the name of John Beard that frequents this forum that maybe able to help you if you supply some photos.

I would not put too much hope in the internet for a rifle like this.

Good luck, I hope you have something.

45B20

I started shooting high power as a high school boy in 1964. The sporterized/targetized Springfield was usually someone's first high power rifle. From there the shooter went either to a nice bolt gun like an M-70 or 40X, or an accurized M-1. That said, some people did keep their 03's and did lots of stuff to them. I can assure you that every high power firing line in the 1960's had such a rifle on the line, often times, several. You don't mention the sights; often the issue sights would continue to be used, or the rifle would be drilled and tapped for a Lyman 48 or similar better rear sight. Occasionally even a globe front sight was fitted.

thanks for the replies, I will get some pics up soon. After reading that chapter of Brophys book it kinda makes me want to add a palm rest and a unertl. Is there anyone out there that makes re-pro pieces of the palm rest brackets and hook buttplates? If not I am a welder could bubba something up.......after figuring out if its rare or not, of course

heres some pics. the barrel mark is the one that has me stumped. hell of a target rifle though. Unfortunately the only competition she sees is shooting cans and quarters, and not often enough damn work! won 20 bucks one time on a bet that I could hit 3 glowsticks in a row at 200 yards:cool:

more info: 7ish inches (measured with leatherman) between tap holes on rcvr and barrel.

Is this a an NRA Sporter someone has ruined? Not sure, but it looks that way to me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Calif-Steve

Is this a an NRA Sporter some has ruined? Not sure, but it looks that way to me.

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don't know, what else do I need to look for that would say "nra sporter"
maybe its a rare international nra sporter bubba style B national match style T?
lol

serial number?

EversonExhaust:

We need to know your entire serial number.

From your photos, it looks like it is 1294xxx, there are literally hundreds of NRA Sporters in the 1294, 1295, and 1296 serial number block. If we knew your exact serial number, most likely one of us on this forum could look it up in the DCM 1922-1942 book, and let you know exactly what you have(or at least, what you started with).

My speculation is that you have an NRA Sporter action and bolt, most likely a Type T barrel (it may have an inch or two cut off), and after that, mostly aftermarket parts to build your target rifle.

The spacing for your scope blocks is essentially correct for Unertl (or Winchester A5) target scopes of the era. The rear block was on the front of the receiver, and the front block was on the barrel 7.2" (on centers) in front of the rear block.

The rear hole in your receiver is not correct for either Unertl or A5 blocks, and was probably added later. In addition, the holes at the rear of the receiver (on the side) are (most likely) original Lyman 48 rear sight holes.

Scott Duff just sold an '03 with a very late serial number that closely resembled a Type T, and as I recall, it has an SA over a number stamped on the barrel, just like yours. Unfortunately, it is not pictured on his website any longer. When you say the SA over 507 is under the scope holes, do you mean on the bottom of the barrel?

If you are uncomfortable posting your full serial number, PM either Chuck or me, we both have the DCM book.

With a little more info, I think we can figure out what you have. Additional photos would help, too.

HTH

EversonExhaust:

"maybe its a rare international nra sporter bubba style B national match style T?"

I just read your last post, funny how I missed that...............

Other than the Style B part, you may be closer than you think!

the style T barrels measure 1.25 at the breach. this one is 1.18

the sa507 would be under the barrel and just behind the scope holes

that rear tap hole was there when I got it, came with a nice base for the leopold I put on it

the stock covers half the holes for the lyman sight so if it was built in this configuration for comp. use it would be for a scoped match?? if?

which ones had the bolt etched? NM, NRA sporters or both?

chuck says its not in the DCM book

EversonExhaust:

I bought the 1903 that relics6165 is talking about. Its S/N is 1,516,604 and it had SA over 504 marked on the barrel at the 6 o-clock position under the front hand guard about 6 inches from the receiver. I am overseas right now so I cannot check out any measurements but I will send you pics or post them if you like.

red33wspc

yeah post up a pic ! I just realized my pics disappeared, oops. will re-post. is yours a heavy barrel?

EversonExhaust,

Here are a few pics. I looked at a list of serial numbers that was in the web for a while. they only have a few rifles that are close to you number:
1928 - 1285266 - 1305900

SA 1286892 HS 10-44
SA 1288237 SA 2-28 RIA made receiver -small circle under SN, flaming bomb on front of recoil lug (CSP 12/05)
SA 12885xx AV 12-18
SA 1290876 SA 6-28
RIA 1292983 SA 11-44 RIA Marked Receiver With SA S/N (CMP Auction)
RIA 1292993 SA 9-28 RIA Marked Receiver With SA S/N
RIA 1293237 SA 12-28 RIA Marked Receiver With SA S/N (CSP 10/08)
SA 1293xxx SA 2-29
SA 1294418 SA 3-29 RIA made receiver -small circle under SN, flaming bomb on front of recoil lug (CSP 12/05)
SA 129689x SA 3-29
RIA 1296991 SA 9-28 RIA Marked Receiver With SA S/N, D.A.L. in rectangle, Block P in 4 quarter circles.
Butt plate is checkered; oiler/thong case inside butt trap, which has the long groove for the
spare parts case. Metal all black Parkerized. M1907 sling is without markings. (email 2/08)
RIA 1297099 SA 1-42 RIA Marked Receiver With SA S/N
SA 1297xxx AV 2-19
SA 1299168 SA 5-28*
SA 1299391 HS 2-44* USMC Service Rifle w/ Original Barrel (what?)
SA 1303223 SA 12-28 gg stock w/ boxed SA (email 1/07)

Here are the pics of my rifle. I will post more once I get them resized.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...0/rirsdd-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...0/9zpv2w-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2r3l66x-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2cwqvc7-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2q0rq05-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...0/f4qm9c-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2moyvpd-1.jpg


RED33wspc

Here are a few more.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2cqifco-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2wc4c3m-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...0/xqet90-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../20q1fue-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2m28c1x-1.jpg

RED33wspc

That is a great looking rifle red! thanks for posting up the pics.

I am really wondering what the heck the SA #'s are

anyone want to trade me a unertl for a leo 4.5 to 14 x50? preferably a 16 or 20 power.


The type B international match rifle has the SA stamp under the barrel and they are calling it the star gauge #. but the #'s on red's rifle(SA504), mine(SA507), and the type b(SA512) are different than what is described as star gauge #'s on p.209 of Brophy's book

So red and I have spare parts from international comp. rifles or someone changed them? am I on the right track here? Thanks for everyone's help on this forum, very interesting and useful information due to all your work.

SA 597 is likely a steel lot code, if you post a good close up picture of the receiver edge of the receiver face, were the barrel meets the receiver, ill be able to tell if its an NRA sporter.

everson-if you can nail 3 glowsticks in a row at 200 yards that is one heck of a rifle for a pig-in a-poke,lol just think what it could do wearing a unertl ...l 'll take it off your hands anyday!